TNA Wrestling extends Spike TV relationship

by Louis Tully on April 5, 2012 inArticleswithComments Off on TNA Wrestling extends Spike TV relationshipTweet

Good news for the allegedly cash-strapped TNA Wrestling. Dixie Carter and Spike TV announced an extension on their strategic partnership” and current television deal this afternoon. After losing the UFC to Fox Cable Networks, keeping pro wrestling on it’s schedule is very important to retaining Spike’s key demographics.

Excerpts from the press release below:

Spike TV and TNA Entertainment have agreed upon a multi-year extension on their strategic partnership, maintaining Spike TV as the exclusive U.S. television home of the emerging sports-entertainment property.

The deal was announced today jointly by Kevin Kay, Spike TV President and Dixie Carter, TNA Entertainment President. TNA wrestling debuted on Spike TV in July, 2005. Over the last seven years, the ratings for TNA’s “IMPACT Wrestling” have grown from an average of 700,000 viewers at launch to nearly two million today.

“Dixie Carter and her team at TNA have done a phenomenal job in developing stars for an exciting, high-action brand that resonates with Spike’s audience,” said Kay. “We are excited to further our partnership and will continue to build and invigorate the franchise together.”

“We are thrilled that Spike TV will be IMPACT Wrestling’s home for years to come,” said Carter. “The dedication that Kevin Kay and the network have shown us in building our brand is what makes this announcement even more meaningful for me. And look for some exciting things to happen on IMPACT in the near future.”

Speaking of Impact Wrestling, the man in the Fedora, Dan Swagger will be by later today and give you your Impact Preview for tonight’s show.